EXPLORE STAR
Every page.
A clear way forward.
Find coaching, practical football guidance and the right place to begin. Browse by section or search for what matters to you.
Pages
Our Partnerships | Girls’ Football in Somerset
Meet STAR’s partners and supporting organisations: SASP, Play Their Way, Her Game Too and Autism Friendly Coaching. Propose a new partnership with STAR.
First Girls’ Football Assessment in Somerset
What to expect at a free 30-minute STAR girls’ football assessment in Somerset, including what to bring, meeting the coach and discussing next steps.
Site Index: Explore STAR
Browse STAR coaching programmes, football guides, practical support and account links in one place.
Search STAR
Search STAR programmes, public pages, common questions and detailed football guides for players and families.
Girls’ Football Coaching Somerset
Girls’ football coaching in Taunton, Bridgwater and Wellington, Somerset. Group sessions and individual programmes for ages 5–18, built around each player.
Girls’ Football Coaching in Taunton, Bridgwater & Wellington
STAR offers girls’ football coaching in Taunton, Bridgwater and Wellington, Somerset. Session venues are arranged individually and confirmed before booking.
Girls’ Football Coaching Programmes in Somerset
Explore one-to-one and group football coaching for girls aged 5–18 in Taunton, Bridgwater and Wellington, Somerset, including STAR Sparks, Flyers and Prestige.
Find Girls’ Football Coaching in Somerset
Find a suitable STAR football coaching programme for girls aged 5–18 in Somerset. Compare group and individual options by age and development goals.
Girls’ Football Development in Somerset: Our Approach
Discover how STAR assesses, coaches and reviews each girl’s football development in Somerset, with practical support alongside her club football.
Inclusive Girls’ Football Coaching in Somerset
Learn how STAR adapts girls’ football coaching in Somerset for different needs, confidence and communication, including autistic and ADHD players.
Meet the STAR Coaching Team
Meet Dean, Becky and Louise, the people supporting girls’ football development at STAR Development Centre in Somerset.
Girls’ Football Pathways in Somerset
Explore girls’ football development pathways from Somerset grassroots football to talent centres, academies, education and the women’s game.
Contact STAR | Girls’ Football Coaching in Somerset
Enquire about girls’ football coaching in Taunton, Bridgwater and Wellington, Somerset. Contact STAR by WhatsApp, phone or email to discuss her next step.
Join STAR: Player Registration
Learn how to create a parent account, complete her player profile and request a free 30-minute STAR introduction and assessment.
Privacy and Safeguarding
How STAR handles enquiries, private onboarding, family accounts and photographs, and how to contact us about privacy and safeguarding.
Football Hub: Guides for Players and Families
Explore practical football guides for girls and families: skills, positions, rules, confidence and choosing coaching, from STAR Development Centre in Somerset.
Programmes
STAR Sparks
AGES 5–10 · A joyful introduction to football, movement, technique and confidence.
Development Groups
AGES 11–16 · Small-group coaching to sharpen technique, decisions and game understanding.
STAR Flyers
AGES 7–10 · Structured one-to-one development with individual goals and progress reviews.
STAR Prestige
AGES 11–18 · Sustained individual development shaped around the player’s confidence and ambitions.
One to One Coaching
AGES 11–18 · Personal coaching focused on the individual player and her football goals.
Player Season Support
CLUB PLAYERS · Club training support and match observations that connect coaching with her team football.
STAR Sparks · ages 5–7
Monday · 3:45–4:45pm · 60 minutes. Discover football through movement, simple games and plenty of time on the ball.
STAR Sparks · ages 8–10
Monday · 3:45–4:45pm · 60 minutes. Build ball skills, confidence and teamwork through enjoyable football challenges.
Development Group · ages 11–13
Tuesday · 4pm · 45 minutes. Practise technique, awareness and decisions with other girls at a similar stage.
Development Group · ages 14–16
Tuesday · 5pm · 45 minutes. Develop technique and game understanding through realistic football situations.
Football guides
Football Passing Drills for Beginners: Accuracy, Weight and Timing
Try four simple football passing drills for beginners, with clear coaching points for accuracy, pass weight and choosing when to release the ball.
Ball Mastery Drills for Kids: Five Ways to Build Close Control
Five ball mastery drills for children, using one ball and a small space, with easier options and ways to connect close control to football decisions.
How to Shield the Ball in Football Without Pushing or Holding
Learn how to shield the ball in football using body position, reachable touches and an exit, with a gentle partner practice for young players.
Football Turns Explained: Drag Back, Inside Hook and Cruyff Turn
Learn three football turns step by step, then practise choosing a drag back, inside hook or Cruyff turn when the space ahead closes.
The Offside Rule Explained Simply for Players and Parents
Understand the offside rule through simple football examples: position, involvement, pass timing and why throw-ins, goal kicks and corners are different.
How to Take a Throw-In: Football Rules, Technique and Practice
Learn the basic throw-in rules and a simple technique, then practise finding a teammate and retaining possession after the restart.
How to Take a Corner Kick: Delivery, Short Corners and Practice
Improve corner-kick delivery with target zones, short-corner options and simple practice that suits a young player’s range and team instructions.
How to Play Full-Back in Football: Defending, Support and Overlaps
A practical full-back guide covering positioning, defending wide areas, supporting a winger, overlapping runs and recovering when possession changes.
How to Play Striker in Football: Movement, Link Play and Box Runs
Learn how a striker creates passing options, times runs behind defenders, links play and moves in the box, with an adaptable practice for young forwards.
Is One-to-One Football Coaching Worth It for Your Daughter?
Decide whether private football coaching suits your daughter, with questions about goals, coaching quality, cost, progress and its place alongside club football.
How Our Prestige Programme Aligns with Elite Pathways Like INAC Kobe Leonessa
How INAC Kobe Leonessa’s academy principles resonate with STAR’s individual, long-term Prestige Programme, with practical football ideas to try.
Building confidence, one football moment at a time
Help a player take the next small step without making confidence another test.
Home practice that fits around real life
Create short, purposeful ball sessions with simple equipment and room for choice.
Scanning: know what is around you before the ball arrives
Turn looking over a shoulder into information that helps the next decision.
A first touch with a purpose
Practise receiving for the action that comes next, rather than stopping every pass.
Beating a defender: timing, space and a change of pace
Make one-to-one attacking about reading the opponent, not memorising tricks.
Useful movement when you do not have the ball
Help teammates by changing passing angles, creating space and moving at the right moment.
Defending with patience and purpose
Explore positioning, delaying and choosing a moment to challenge.
Turn coaching feedback into something you can try
Ask clearer questions, practise one adjustment and review what changes.
Supporting her from the sideline and on the way home
Offer encouragement that leaves room for the player’s decisions and feelings.
Starting football when everyone else seems ahead
A practical guide to finding a welcoming first experience and learning at your own pace.
Football goals that belong to the player
Turn ambition into useful next steps while allowing interests and circumstances to change.
Watch football with a player’s eye
Notice movement, decisions and teamwork without turning every match into homework.
What to Say When Your Daughter Says “I’m Not Good Enough” at Football
How to listen, respond and support your daughter when football leaves her doubting herself.
Autism-Friendly Football: Practical Adjustments That Make a Real Difference
Practical ways to make football clearer, more comfortable and more accessible for autistic and neurodivergent players.
Finding the Right Fit: A Simple Guide for Somerset Parents
A practical guide to choosing football coaching that fits your daughter and your family’s life in Somerset.
Girls’ Football Coaching in Taunton: What’s Available and How to Choose
Explore local football options and consider which coaching environment suits your daughter.
Girls’ Football Coaching in Bridgwater – A Parent’s Guide
Explore girls’ football and coaching options around Bridgwater and find a suitable next step for your daughter.
Girls’ Football Coaching in Wellington
A guide to Wellington Wildcats and the individual coaching support available alongside club football.
Football Coaching for Non-Verbal and Minimally Verbal Neurodivergent Girls
How listening, observation and practical adjustments can help girls who communicate with little or no speech enjoy football.
How Japanese Coaching Philosophies Shape the Way We Work at STAR
How ideas from Japanese player development influence STAR’s patient, individual and long-term approach.
How to Improve Your Weaker Foot in Football
Simple weaker-foot football exercises, a realistic practice routine and advice on using both feet confidently in matches.
Football Positions Explained: A Guide for Girls and Parents
Understand what goalkeepers, defenders, midfielders and forwards do, how formations change their jobs and how young players can explore different positions.
How to Become a Better Central Midfielder in Football
Learn central midfield positioning, scanning, receiving, passing and defensive habits with practical exercises for developing players.
How to Prepare for Girls' Football Trials: A Practical Guide
A realistic guide to girls' football trials, including preparation, what coaches may observe, trial-day nerves and handling selection decisions.
Moving from Girls' Football into Women's Football
Understand the move from youth girls' teams to senior women's football, including readiness, playing opportunities and questions to ask clubs.
Match-Day Food and Hydration for Young Footballers
Simple food and hydration ideas for young footballers before, during and after matches, without restrictive diets or unnecessary supplements.
How to Improve Football Stamina for Girls
Practical guide to football stamina for girls, with age-appropriate advice, common mistakes and ideas players and parents can use in real football.
Football Warm-Up for Young Players: A Match-Day Routine
Practical guide to football warm-up for young players, with age-appropriate advice, common mistakes and ideas players and parents can use in real football.
How to Play Winger in Football: Positioning and Skills
Practical guide to how to play winger in football, with age-appropriate advice, common mistakes and ideas players and parents can use in real football.
How to Play Centre-Back in Football: A Young Player's Guide
Practical guide to how to play centre back football, with age-appropriate advice, common mistakes and ideas players and parents can use in real football.
How to Improve Shooting Accuracy in Football
Practical guide to football shooting accuracy drills, with age-appropriate advice, common mistakes and ideas players and parents can use in real football.
Goalkeeper Training for Girls: Five Essential Skills
Practical guide to goalkeeper training drills girls, with age-appropriate advice, common mistakes and ideas players and parents can use in real football.
Girls' Football and Puberty: Supporting Players Through Change
Practical guide to girls football puberty, with age-appropriate advice, common mistakes and ideas players and parents can use in real football.
Concussion in Youth Football: Signs and Return to Play
Practical guide to youth football concussion, with age-appropriate advice, common mistakes and ideas players and parents can use in real football.
When Your Daughter Is on the Bench: What Parents Can Do
Practical guide to daughter football substitute playing time, with age-appropriate advice, common mistakes and ideas players and parents can use in real football.
How to Choose Football Boots for Girls: Fit and Surfaces
Practical guide to football boots for girls, with age-appropriate advice, common mistakes and ideas players and parents can use in real football.
Girls' Football Burnout: Signs, Causes and How Parents Can Help
Understand burnout in girls' football, including warning signs, training overload, lost enjoyment and practical steps parents and coaches can take.
Leadership and Communication in Girls' Football: A Practical Player Guide
Develop football leadership and communication skills, from helpful on-pitch calls to supporting teammates, managing mistakes and becoming a confident captain.
Injury Prevention and Recovery in Girls' Football: A Guide for Families
A practical guide to reducing injury risk in girls' football through warm-ups, sensible workloads, strength, rest and safe return after injury.
Mental Resilience in Girls' Football: Handling Mistakes, Pressure and Setbacks
Help girls build football resilience with practical strategies for match nerves, mistakes, selection setbacks, confidence and supportive feedback.
Goalkeeper Positioning and Angles: How to Make More Saves
Learn goalkeeper positioning, angles and starting positions in football, with practical exercises for young goalkeepers.
Goalkeeper Handling and Catching: Techniques and Training Drills
Improve goalkeeper handling and catching with age-appropriate drills for low balls, chest-height catches and rebounds.
Goalkeeper Distribution: Passing, Throwing and Playing Out from the Back
A practical goalkeeper distribution guide covering passing, throwing, scanning, playing out from the back and decision-making under pressure.
Goalkeeper One-on-Ones: Positioning, Timing and Decision-Making
Learn how goalkeepers can manage one-on-one situations using positioning, patience, communication and safe decision-making.
Goalkeeper Confidence: Recovering from Mistakes and Handling Pressure
Help young goalkeepers build confidence, recover after mistakes and manage pressure with practical guidance for players, parents and coaches.
Help & accounts
For parents: support and common questions
Coaching feedback, confidence, balancing football with school and preparing for a first session.
The STAR members’ pack
Training top, bag, bottle and practical extras. Flyers and Prestige on joining; One to One Coaching after five sessions.
Autism friendly coaching and individual support
Talk to STAR about autism, ADHD, sensory needs, communication preferences and what helps her learn.
Programme prices and payment options
Sign in on the Programmes page to view prices and payment options. You can enquire without an account.
Free assessment and getting started
Create a parent account, complete her player profile and request a free 30-minute assessment and introduction. STAR confirms the arrangements.
Parent Portal login
Sign in to your family account for sessions, development updates and the private Parent Learning Hub.
Player Space login
Sign in to your Player Space for coach-assigned practice, personal goals and achievements.
Staff Portal login
Sign in to the staff area. Access is for authorised STAR coaches and staff.
Read feedback tips <span aria-hidden="true">+</span></summary><div className="home-guide-tips"><ul><li>If an instruction is unclear, encourage her to ask for a demonstration or an example of when to use it.</li><li>Let her try the suggestion in practice or a match, then tell her coach what felt different.</li><li>Ask what she understood and wants to try. Every journey home doesn’t need to become an analysis of mistakes.</li></ul></div></details></div></article><div className="home-guide-stack"><article className="home-parent-guide"><span className="home-guide-label">02 / FOOTBALL & EVERYDAY LIFE</span><h3>A week that works for her.</h3><p>School, friendships, rest and football all need room in her week.</p><details><summary>Read balance tips <span aria-hidden="true">+</span></summary><div className="home-guide-tips"><ul><li>Plan football around school commitments and time to relax.</li><li>Choose home practice that fits her week. Extra work should have a useful focus.</li><li>Tell STAR when she feels overloaded or needs a lighter session so we can discuss the plan together.</li></ul></div></details></article><article className="home-parent-guide"><span className="home-guide-label">03 / CONFIDENCE & ENJOYMENT</span><h3>Let her set the direction.</h3><p>Her goals can be ambitious, small or changing. Start by asking what matters to her.</p><details><summary>Read confidence tips <span aria-hidden="true">+</span></summary><div className="home-guide-tips"><ul><li>Ask: “What would make football feel good for you this season?” Agree a next step with her.</li><li>Notice when pressure is taking away the enjoyment. Listen before offering solutions.</li><li>If she wants a change or a break, explore what she means and respect her choice. Goals can change.</li></ul></div></details></article></div></div><p className="home-guides-more">Explore more support in your account <Link href="/parent-portal" className="home-link">Visit the Parent Portal <span aria-hidden="true">→</span></Link></p><div className="home-parent-editorial"><div><p className="home-eyebrow">BEFORE THE FIRST WHISTLE</p><h3>Before her<br/>first session.</h3><p>Planning her first session? Talk to us about her experience, individual needs and anything she feels nervous about.</p><Link href="/contact" className="home-link">Ask about STAR football coaching →</Link></div><div className="home-parent-faq"><details><summary>What ages does STAR coach?
STAR offers girls’ football coaching for ages 5–18. Sparks groups are for ages 5–10 and Development Groups for ages 11–16. Individual options include Flyers for ages 7–10, and Prestige or flexible one-to-one coaching for ages 11–18.
Is STAR suitable for complete beginners?
Yes. We coach girls of all abilities, including complete beginners. We shape the coaching around your daughter’s experience and what helps her learn.
How does STAR support neurodivergent players?
STAR is an Approved Autism Friendly Coaching provider. We discuss your daughter’s needs with you and agree what helps her learn and feel comfortable. Read about individual support.
Where does STAR football coaching take place?
STAR provides girls’ football coaching in Taunton and Wellington, Somerset. The venue depends on the programme and individual arrangements. We’ll confirm the location and availability with you before her first session.
What should she bring to a STAR football session?
Bring a drink and comfortable sports clothing. We’ll confirm the venue, playing surface, suitable footwear and any session-specific kit requirements before her first coaching session.
What if my daughter feels nervous about coaching?
Tell us what worries her and what helps her settle. We can explain what will happen before she arrives and discuss an introduction that helps her feel comfortable asking questions and trying new skills.
Can I stay and watch?
Ask STAR about arrangements for her session. We’ll confirm where to meet, whether you can stay and the best place to watch at the agreed venue.
Does STAR replace her football club?
No. STAR is an independent development centre offering additional coaching alongside her existing club. The aim is to help her apply what she learns in team training and matches.
How is her football development reviewed?
We set clear coaching priorities, give practical feedback and listen to her experience. Structured individual programmes include an Individual Development Plan (IDP) and regular reviews. Each programme page explains the support included.